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Hydrangea paniculata Strawberry Blossom is a popular variety widely grown in the CIS countries. It is important to know how to properly plant a plant and further care for it.
Description of hydrangea Strawberry Blossom
Hydrangea is a shrub about 1 m high, with lush flowering corymbose inflorescences. Each of them contains bisexual sterile flowers. Shoots are strong, rarely break under gusts of wind. Usually fertile flowers are localized in the middle of wedge-shaped inflorescences, framed by barren specimens. The diameter of the flowers is 30 cm. Hydrangea paniculata Gydrangea Paniculata Strawberry Blossom successfully takes root in Central Our Country. Flowering falls in mid-July, lasts until the end of October. In Moscow and the Moscow region, it is better to plant it in an area well lit by sunlight. In the South, bushes are recommended to be placed in partial shade. Hydrangea will serve as a spectacular decoration of any garden, the flowers are shaped like strawberries. Due to the similarity of inflorescences with this culture, the variety is also called “Strawberry Blossom”.
Hydrangea paniculata Strawberry Blossom in landscape design
Hydrangea is planted in gardens as a hedge, to decorate the border. Strawberry Blossom bushes will become an attractive decoration of the summer cottage. The flower is placed as a main element or in combination with other crops.
Pinkish-white hydrangea bloom looks incredibly delicate
Winter hardiness of hydrangea paniculata Strawberry Blossom
Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom is famous for its high resistance to cold, the bushes withstand frosts down to -31. In regions with severe winters, it is recommended to additionally warm the culture.
Planting and caring for hydrangea Strawberry Blossom
In order for the planting material to successfully take root, it should be planted in a suitable place, having previously prepared the site. It is important to consider the landing rules.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
It is recommended to plant panicled hydrangea Little Blossom in fertile soil, having prepared a hole in advance. The acidity of the soil should be at least 6.0, then the bushes will bloom profusely. Experienced gardeners are advised to give preference to sunny areas. Strawberry Blossom thrives best in a sheltered position. Shrubs should be transplanted in the spring.
The selected place is plowed 2 weeks before planting, weeds are removed. The dug up soil passes oxygen, absorbs fertilizers better. The holes are made 40-45 cm deep, 55-70 cm wide. The hydrangea root system grows in breadth, extending beyond the crown. It is optimal to carry out planting work in early May or September.
Rules of landing
Before planting seedlings, they are checked for integrity, the presence of diseases. In order for them to take root better, seedlings should be dipped in a solution to stimulate the growth of the rhizome “Epin” or a clay mixture for 2 hours.
The algorithm for planting hydrangea Strawberry Blossom is as follows:
- Pour 3 buckets of water into the holes. After the earth has dried, add mineral and organic top dressing: a mixture of 1 tbsp. l. urea, potassium sulfate, garden soil, sand, peat and humus. Mix the components thoroughly.
- Plant seedlings in the ground, compact the area around them.
- Water the plantings of the Strawberry Blossom variety with water in the amount of 30 liters per 1 sq. m.
Watering and top dressing
Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom is translated into as “a vessel for water.” This is due to the fact that the culture needs frequent watering. Hydrangea is watered once a week with settled water. The root area should always be moist. For less evaporation of the liquid, a mulching layer of peat, sawdust, rotted sheets or humus is used. For 1 bush you will need from 1 liters of water.
During the growing season, shrubs are fed 4 times
In the spring, nutrient mixtures of nitrogen are introduced. In the flowering phase, potassium, phosphate components are added. Fertilize with potassium sulfate, superphosphate in autumn.
Pruning Hydrangea paniculata Strawberry Blossom
It is imperative to trim the hydrangea bushes, otherwise the growth of the plant is inhibited, the risk of developing diseases and beetle attacks increases. Formation starts from 4 years of age. Frozen, damaged shoots growing inward are removed. On the 5-10 remaining strongest hydrangea branches, 3-5 buds are left. This pruning stimulates abundant flowering. Old bushes need rejuvenating pruning. Leave up to 10 young branches, or cut off all shoots to stumps. A variety of Strawberry Blossom will bloom magnificently after such events in 2 years.
Strawberry Blossom formative pruning example to achieve more lush blooms
Preparation for winter
Adult hydrangea shrubs are winter-hardy, do not require shelter for the winter. If you resort to warming, the plant will bloom more magnificently. Usually, the root system is covered with a layer of mulch of 20-30 cm. Young bushes must be covered before frost. For shelter, a frame made of branches, spunbod, or burlap is used. The material must pass oxygen.
Reproduction
Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom is propagated by cuttings, shrub division or layering:
- Cutting. This is the most productive method by which you can get a lot of strawberry blossom hydrangea seedlings. It is optimal to cut the plant in May or summer, so that they take root by the cold season. In the spring, stiff branches are used that remain after pruning. They are dipped in water for 3 days, then cut into pieces. Each copy after pruning must have at least 3 buds. Then they are seated in a nutrient mixture of peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 1. Landings are irrigated, covered with a film. Rooted seedlings of Strawberry Blossom hydrangea are planted in the garden in the spring. In summer, green, non-woody specimens are used. Each should have a minimum of 4-6 sheets. The lower leaves are removed from them, and the upper ones are cut in half. Hydrangea cuttings are placed in water for 3 days, after which they are treated with a growth stimulator, planted in nutritious moist soil from peat with sand. From above, the cuttings are covered with a jar in order to create a greenhouse effect. Rooted plantings overwinter in greenhouse conditions, the next season they are planted in the garden.
- Layering. In March, before bud break, a hole 5 cm deep is made near the selected branch. The lower shoot of the Strawberry Blossom variety is bent down, placed in this recess. So that he does not straighten up, they bend in several places to the soil, fall asleep with it. The tip of the branch should be on the surface. He is tied to a stake. By August, roots and young branches 15-20 cm high are formed on the layers of hydrangea. They are spudded every week. In the last days of September of the following year, young plants are separated from the mother shrub, transplanted to a permanent place.
- Division of the bush. The mother bush of hydrangea Strawberry Blossom is dug up, divided into 3 parts. Each of them should include 3-4 kidneys. Planting holes with a nutrient mixture are prepared in advance. If there are root suckers around the plant, the bush can not be dug up, but only carefully separated without damaging the root system. Previously, it is better to remove the top layer of earth around the overgrowth. Already in the first year of planting, Strawberry Blossom bushes will bloom with lush flowers.
It will be easier for inexperienced gardeners to propagate Strawberry Blossom hydrangea by cuttings.
Diseases and pests
Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom is famous for its powerful immunity, but under bad weather conditions, lack of compliance with care standards, the bushes are attacked by beetles and diseases. The most common diseases are:
- Leaf chlorosis. The disease is characterized by yellowing of hydrangea foliage, but the veins remain green. The disease is caused by an increased content of calcium in the earth. Chlorosis also develops due to the use of too large a dose of mineral supplements. To get rid of the disease, Strawberry Blossom shrubs are acidified with peat and aluminum sulfate with a calculation of 1.5-5 kg per 1 sq. m. When the event did not bring results, they take iron-based fertilizer, or a solution of melanterite. For prevention, hydrangea Strawberry Blossom is mulched with peat, bark of coniferous trees, watered with water at room temperature.
- leaf burns. If the sun’s rays burn the foliage of Strawberry Blossom hydrangea, whitish, translucent spots appear on it. Damaged tissue thins out. To prevent burns, bushes should be shaded.
- Mučnistaâ rosa. Pathology develops at a temperature of 18-25 degrees. It is promoted by an excess of fertilizing with nitrogen, low humidity. At the first symptoms of the disease, increase the frequency of watering, mulch shrubs. Too thick specimens of the Strawberry Blossom variety are transplanted in March. Infected shrubs are sprayed with fungicides with biological products 2-3 times with a pause of 10 days. When powdery mildew is severe, hydrangea cannot be treated.
- Gray mold. When a grayish, dense coating settles on the leaves of the hydrangea, this is preceded by too frequent circumcision and watering. Affected specimens are removed, burned away from the garden, the remaining parts of the shrub are sprayed with fungicides 2-3 times with an interval of 1 week. As an additional measure, mulching the bushes is suitable.
- Tracheomycosis wilt. Signs of the disease are initially visible on the roots, later they grow into the core of the trunk and branches, filling the vascular network. The harmful organism blocks the access of useful components, the bush dies. To cure hydrangea, it is necessary to remove the affected areas, shed the soil around with a manganese solution. You can also sprinkle the Strawberry Blossom bushes with a mixture of powdered sulfur, wood ash.
If you carry out preventive treatments of hydrangeas with fungicides, remove wheatgrass in time, plow the soil, beetle attacks and the development of diseases can be avoided
Conclusion
Hydrangea paniculata Strawberry Blossom will effectively decorate any garden. The plant is undemanding in care, even an inexperienced gardener can grow it. The main thing is to pay attention to the purchase of seedlings, they should be taken from specialized nurseries or from trusted sellers on the market. Compliance with the norms of care will help to achieve lush flowering the very next year after planting.
Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom Reviews
